By Yulissa Barrios, Staff Writer
Many students are unaware of Saint Leo University’s pro-life student organization on campus, Imago Dei. Although they have done a few things here and there, they have lacked a presence in the students’ daily lives on campus. However, with new leadership arrangements, Imago Dei plans to turn that around by increasing engagement.
Arianna E. Rodriguez, the new president of Imago Dei and a senior majoring in political science, describes what she believes were the previous misconceptions about the club.
“Before, I felt that a lot of people felt like they couldn’t join if they weren’t Catholic or if they didn’t go to Ministry,” said Rodriguez, “but the truth is, those are not requirements to join Imago Dei. I want to branch out more and reach everyone who is pro-life.”
Rodriguez stated her desire to grow Imago Dei was rooted in her goal to create an open space for the pro-life community and provide opportunities for gaining valuable information.
As someone who has worked at a pregnancy center previously, Rodriguez has personal, eye-witness knowledge of the abortion clinic system and wants to spread that knowledge.
Rodriguez discussed that, like others, she previously did not know the facts concerning abortion, but now that she does, she wanted to share them with her members and community members.
“Imago Dei’s whole mission is simply to inform everyone about the realities behind an abortion so that at the end of the day, that woman can make her own, informed decision,” said Rodriguez.
She wants to reflect Imago Dei’s mission statement by hosting events and activities that center around advocating and informing others about what it truly means to be pro-life.
To achieve this, the president plans to host meetings twice a month, every other Monday at 7 p.m., aimed at discussing the pro-life perspective on abortion, Amendment 4, and other related topics. Additionally, the president is in the process of bringing guest speakers to the University Campus, including Dr. Robinson Hayward, who has experience in the field of abortion and can provide insight into this viewpoint.
“Having Dr. Hayward will give the chance to shine a light on the relativity, and also, for people who are pro-choice, understanding of what the defense for life is,” stated Rodriguez.
Furthermore, with the development of Imago Dei, they also hope to take its members to March for Life, a nationwide march in Washington D.C, which promotes the pro-life position on abortion and advocates against the practice and legality of abortion.
“It has always been my dream to go, and as president, I am going to do everything that I can to make it happen,” said Rodriguez.
Currently, through donations from the Diocese of St. Petersburg and through connections with the pro-life student organization at the University of South Florida, Rodriguez hopes to give her members the opportunity to go to March for Life. The president hopes, that through bi-weekly meetings and additional events, Imago Dei will grow and, in the process, inform students about the various perspectives on abortion and understand the pro-life stance.
